ONE of the villagers who launched re-enactments of the Battle of Stamford Bridge has died, just months before the battle's 950th anniversary.

Tom Wyles, who was married to Theresa and had three children, Laura, Hannah and Tom, died in hospital after suffering a heart attack, aged 63.

Chris Rock said he and Tom had co-founded the Battle of Stamford Bridge Society several years ago, since when it had staged annual re-enactments of the battle.

Chris said he and other members of the society would press ahead with plans to mark the anniversary of the battle of September 1066, which would now take place in memory of Tom. Paying tribute, he said: "He was a man with vision for the community and for the project. It's a great loss."

Archaeologist Chas Jones, who has been involved in a long campaign to save the site of the Battle of Fulford from development and knew Tom well, also paid tribute, saying: "I will really miss Tom. He was a big man in all senses of that word. He made things happen.

"There are several groups and societies that he coaxed into existence because once he saw something needed doing he would not take 'no' for an answer.

"He was working on the plans to celebrate the 950th anniversary of the battle of Stamford Bridge last week and I know that all his many friends will make it all happen."

He said Tom was the inspiration for the Viking boat which had been created in the centre of the village, which was full of flowers as part of the community's entry to Britain in Bloom, and Tom had also driven a project to create a tapestry depicting the battle.

Tom's widow Theresa said he had also been involved in the York branch of The Volsung Vikings, the national re-enactment society which aims to bring history alive by accurately presenting the culture, warfare and day to day life of the period through displays of combat, living history and saga-telling.

She said he also started up the community hub in Stamford Bridge village hall, which gave people a chance to meet and socialise every Wednesday afternoon.

She added that her husband's funeral will take place at 12 noon next Friday, February 19, at East Riding Crematorium at Octon.